Photo Gallery: A Look Back at December 2012 in Vermont

A passing cold front welcomed Vermonters to December this year, and it dropped nearly 12" of fresh snow in the mountains.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

The next morning, skiers enjoyed their first legitmate powder day of the season - not a bad way to kick off Deepcember in Vermont.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

And by mid-December, the Old Man was able to take charge once again. Here, he's kicking off a week long snow cycle by shrouding the higher elevations of Vermont's Sugarbush in snow.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

Kip Roberts, manager of Onion River Sports in Montpelier, made the most of the fresh snow in Vermont's Mad River Valley.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

Several inches began piling up at Sugarbush on Monday, and while little, if any, snow was accumulating in the lower valleys, skiers were enjoying free refills with every run in the mountains. Terrain coated with a man-made base was skiing especially well again. Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

A groomer at Okemo works its magic as more fresh snow falls over the southern and central Green Mountains this week, too.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

And after taking a pretty good hit the week before, terrain relying on only natural snow was coming back into its element. Dave Bouchard at Mad River Glen.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

Skiers and riders came out in droves up at Stowe, too.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

By Tuesday, several more inches had fallen, and Emily Johnson wasted no time headed for the hills in Vermont's Mad River Valley.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

The snow kept up all day, and by late afternoon, skiers like Ian Forgays were enjoying shin deep conditions in Vermont's Mad River Valley.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

Vermont.

With Old Man Winter now taking the helm for a few months, and with forecasts calling for snow through the weekend in Vermont, it's shaping up to be a great holiday week of skiing and riding in the Green Mountains. (Spruce Peak Lodge at Stowe) Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

But before the winter season could usher in the next round of snow for Vermont and the Northeast, at least a few hours of sun was in order.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

While it wasn't as deep as the 30" that fell at Maine's Sugarloaf this week, the skiing was smooth and untracked at Vermont's Bolton ValleyCopyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

...just long enough to light up and offer a glimpse of the highest reaches of Vermont, including the top of Mad River Glen's Single Chair and the state's iconic Camel's Hump.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

The sun took its time showing its face, and when it did, Ian Forgays was there to soak it up, high above Vermont's Mad River Valley, where it lingered for just a couple of hours....Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto

With the winter season finally kicking into gear in Vermont, local Mike Strojny is stoked.Copyright: Brian Mohr / EmberPhoto